विश्व मेहनतकशों के महान पर्व मई दिवस 2014 के मौके पर हम विश्व के मेहनतकश जनता के साथ-साथ भारत के मेहनतकशों, बीमा कर्मियों व मध्यक्षेत्र के समस्त बीमा कर्मियों को क्रांतिकारी शुभकामनायें प्रेषित करते हैं।

•     May_Day_Circular_2014.pdf

Dear Comrades,

Please download the attached AIIPA Circular No.07/2014 dated 24^th March 2014.

•     AIIPA_Cir.07.14.doc

The people of India will elect their representatives to the 16th Lok Sabha by middle of May, 2014. The election commission has already announced the dates of elections to the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies during 7th of April to 12th May, 2014. The results of   this election shall be declared on 16th May, 2014 as per schedule drawn by the Election Commission.

 The Congress led UPA II government in last 10 years has pushed the Indian economy to an abysmal point. The neo liberal economy embraced by Congress in consonance of the dictum of IMF/World Bank is the cause for this tragedy witnessed by the people of our country. In fact the reforms introduced by Congress in 1991 and pursued by the following governments was the platform that opened up Indian Economy to the needs of indigenous and foreign capital’s greed to loot the wealth of the country. Economy was further liberalised by BJP led NDA government in 1999. This only confirmed that Indian politics and political parties excepting the Left competed with each other to show their subservience to the dictates of finance capital. This philosophy altered the course of the government policies from interventionist policy to market-driven policy. This understanding of the ruling classes thus accepted the dictum ‘it is not the business of the government to be in business’.  It further boasted that the duty of the government is only to govern the country. The government totally abdicated its responsibility to intervene on behalf of the common man and gave a free ticket to the rich to further their profits. This theory enabled privatisation of government and public services. Government detached itself from providing subsidy to the people in the areas of basic necessities. The Indian ruling class totally neglected the agriculture sector. Shifting the primary lending away from agriculture sector resulted in suicides of more than 2.8 lakh farmers in this country during the period of reforms. The ever increasing inflation resulted into continuous and unprecedented price rise.
 
The consecutive governments since 1991 were shamelessly chanting the mantra of Privatisation. They said privatisation alone will lift the Indian economy to greater heights and in turn distributes the wealth of the country to its people.  This enabled privatisation of all public sectors in this country for a throw away price to both Indian and foreign private entrepreneurs. This led to the unbridled loot of public wealth by these private corporates. India today is home to 60 $billionaires and is ranked fifth in the world in number of billionaires. The combined wealth of these Indian billionaires comes to a staggering $390 billion which is almost 1/3rd of the total GDP of the country. All the scams in post reform era stand testimony to this obnoxious design of ruling classes. The policy of privatisation led to more attacks on working people of this country. The unemployment increased. The contract employment replaced the permanent employment. Reforms in pension sector resulted in the defined pension being replaced by defined contribution.  The Indian trade union movement led by left had to launch struggles against this anti worker and anti people policies. India witnessed 15 general strikes in the last 20 years.  Today we witness more inequality among the people due to the economic reforms in this country.
 
It is in this background that AIIEA has protected the public sector LIC and General Insurance Companies in the last two decades. Despite the attempts of successive governments since 1999 to weaken the public sector insurance industry, the sustained campaign and struggle unleashed by AIIEA could not only protect our industry but also helped the industry to reach commanding positions. Without doubt the public sector insurance companies are market leaders today. Our campaign against the LIC (Amendment) Bill 2009 finally succeeded in protection of LIC. The campaign against Insurance laws (Amendment) bill 2008 could so far stall the government’s attempts and the campaign should continue. This bill not only allows increase in foreign direct investment from the present 26% to 49% but also enables privatisation of public sector general insurance companies. This attempt of government is nothing but to hand over the savings mobilized by the public sector insurance industry to the private hands. AIIEA’s struggle could so far keep the government at bay on this Bill.

The Elections 2014 are definitely going to shape the future of public sector insurance industry. The two major political parties viz., the Congress and the BJP have already stated that once they come to power in 2014, their priority will be to further liberalize the financial sector.

Therefore, this election is very important for every employee working in public sector insurance industry. If we have to guard this industry, we must act decisively in this crucial election. The time has come to think and decide on whose side we should stand by. Do we have to elect such political formulations which are against the public sector and the public sector insurance industry? Do people of India have to elect such political parties whose economic policies are anti- poor, anti-worker and anti-people?  Should the people elect such governments who shun their responsibility towards majority people’s aspirations?

The 23rd General Conference of AIIEA while answering these questions called upon the people of this country to change ‘THE NEETI NOT NETA ALONE’. The discussion in media that who is our next PM – “ IS IT MODI OR RAHUL “ is no use to the people of this country because both represent the same economic philosophy of  FREE MARKET ECONOMY. Their parties unashamedly represent the corporate world.  This being the reality, the conference of AIIEA beckoned people of this country to “REJECT CONGRESS led UPA and DEFEAT BJP led NDA. In this background we call upon insurance employees to support the Left, secular, progressive and democratic political parties and save the economic independence of India. Let us all fulfill this task without any let up and be proud partners for a better India tomorrow.

With warm greetings,       

Comradely yours,
General Secretary

(Please download the attached AIIEA Circular No.06/2014 dated 25^th March 2014)

•     Lok_Sabha_Elections_2014.doc

Dear Comrades,

Please download the attached AIIEA Memorandum to the Candidates of various political parties contesting for 16th Loksabha Elections.

•     covrng_letter.doc
•     memorandum_to_the_candidates_of_various_political_parties.doc

Dear Comrades,

Please download the attached AIIPA Circular No.06/2014 dated 12^th March 2014.

•     AIIPA_Cir.06.14.doc

Dear Comrades,

Please download the attached Circular.

•     HCPT.pdf
•     Renewal_of_GMS.pdf

AIIPA OFFICE BEARERS' MEETING

As scheduled, the Office-bearers of AIIPA met in the city of Ahmedabad on 22nd February 2014, to review the implementation of programme of action, as decided in the Central Committee meeting held in December 2013 @ Hyderabad and also to decide on the venue and the dates of the 6th All India Confeence of AIIPA. The meeting presided over by Com.M.L.Setiya, President, was also attended by Special Invitees, Com.H.I.Bhat, Joint Secretary, AIIEA and others. AIIPA thanks Com.Bhat for his atttending the meeting and guiding its proceedings.

Expressing satisfaction over the enthusiastic response of the pensioners to the Postcard Campaign and also the successful implementation of other programmes by the Pensioners' Associations all over the country, the meeting noted that the protest lodged by the pensioners was loud and clear and the authorities would take notice of the restive mood and the strong feelings of the seniors. The meeting was also informed that AIIPA's letters addressed to all national political parties were all handed over to impress upon them to intervene in the matter and to take up with the concerned for early solution of the insurance pensioners issues.

Endorsing and appreciating the organisational steps continuously taken by the AIIPA for resolution of the issues, the meeting was of the view that the tactical line pursued by the organisation has proved to be a proper one in the light of latest developments. The meeting was also informed on the details of the meeting AIIPA had with the Executive Director (Personnel), LIC on 21.2.2014 at Mumbai. The meeting also felt that the process of dialogue with the managements should continue and that every effort should be made to break the present stalemate at the earliest. AIIPA also wrote a communication on 17th February 2014 to the Chairman, LIC, urging him to implement the LIC Board Resolution of 24.11.2001 without waiting for the legal process to end as ‘not the merits of issues are under dispute', as a follow-up after the Jaipur High Court developments, the meeting was told.

The meeting further expressed that these organisational initiatives shall be continued to bring forth desired results.

6th All India Conference of AIIPA

Accepting the invitation of Insurance Pensioners' Association, Kanpur to host and organise the 6th All India Conference of AIIPA in North Central Zone at Kanpur in the month of October 2014, the meeting decided to hold the Conference at Kanpur from 7 to 9, October 2014.
 
The meeting also received a report from Kanpur comrades on their plans for successfully organising the Conference and noted with appreciation their initiatives. The meeting also welcomed the keen interest shown by the leaders and rank and file of North Central Zone Insurance Employees' Federation under the leadership of its General Secretary, Com.Ashok Tewari, to organise the All India Conference at Kanpur and sincerely thanked them for the same. AIIPA confidently expects that this All India Conference will be one other milestone in the annals of AIIPA.

As the All India Conference is to be held in the city of Kanpur, the meeting decided to
call upon the pensioners of Kanpur to liberally contribute with minimum of Rs.500 and as the Conference is to be jointly organised by the pensioners of North Central Zone, they would contribute liberally with minimum of Rs.250 for the Conference.

The meeting also called upon the insurance pensioners in the rest of the country to contribute liberally with minimum of Rs.100 to defray the expenses of the Conference as was decided by the Central Committee of AIIPA and heartily thanked and congratulated the Pensioners’ Associations which have already remitted their contributions; Nagpur Rs.76,700 (full), partial - Hyderabad Rs.50,000, Chennai Rs.40,000 and Surat Rs.25,000.
 
The meeting was also sure that others would be remitting their share of contributions at their earliest, out of their funds, without waiting for the collection of contributions from the pensioners to be completed.
 
Our Insurance Pensioners' Association, Ahmedabad, organised a 'well-attended' meetingof the pensioners on 23.2.2014, which was addressed, among others, by Com.H.I.Bhat, General Secretary, WZIEA, Com.M.L.Setiya, President and Com.K.Natarajan, General Secretary, AIIPA.

AIIPA wishes to thank and congratulate our IPA, Ahmedabad for the excellent arrangements made for the AIIPA Office-bearers' meeting.

With Greetings,

Yours Comradely,
(K.NATARAJAN)
General Secretary

•     AIIPA_Cir.05.14.doc

8 मार्च - अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस  के मौके पर क्षेत्रीय कामकाजी महिला समन्वय समिति द्वारा जारी परिपत्र डाउनलोड करे।

•     Circular-Mahila_Samiti.pdf

Please find a letter addressed to the Chairman, LICI in the attachment.

Ramesh
General Secretary
AIIEA

•     lettr_to_chairman_on_promotion_eligibility_of_sweeper-cum-attendants.doc

AIIPA delegation presses for immediate steps for solution of LIC Pensioners’ issues

Insurance pensioners, more particularly LIC pensioners, demand of the management of LIC and through them, the Government of India to shed their inhibitions, immediately initiate measures  that would pave way for grant of increased ex-gratia to pre-1986 retirees and/or their spouses,  grant of uniform rate of Dearness Relief to all pensioners irrespective of date of retirement and for settlement of other pending issues, was the crisp message conveyed to the  officials of LIC, when a delegation of AIIPA met them on February 21, 2014.

As part of the continuing endeavours through letters by the organisation, through expression of their justified anger by pensioners channelised by local units and most notably, through periodic meetings with officials of LIC and GIPSA, AIIPA sought for and met the Executive Director (Personnel) Shri.M.R.Kumar and other officials.
The delegation consisting of Com.M.L.Setiya, President, Com.K.Natarajan, General Secretary and Com.M.J.Damle, Joint Secretary, AIIPA, utilised the occasion to reapprise the management of the consistent view point of the AIIPA, that the twin issues of hike in ex-gratia and grant of uniform rate of Dearness Relief, specially to pre-August 1997 pensioners, should  not be allowed to be in limbo on the plea of matter being  under judicial scrutiny.
The meeting had been fixed well before the renewed proceedings before the Hon’ble Jaipur High Court was to commence and immediately earlier to the meeting, AIIPA had written a letter to the Chairman of the LIC. The purpose of the communication was to urge upon LIC to speed up steps for implementation of its Board Resolution in the context of latest developments and pointing out to the ethical obligation that was cast upon the management of LIC.
The delegation referred to the latest letter and host of others from AIIPA and its units and insisted upon immediate solutions. It pointed out that the Civil Appeals before the Apex Court were for verdict on legal matters and the stand of the organisation for favourable decisions even before the matter was heard by the Court as merits were not under dispute and/or the issue was not under purview has become more relevant in the current situation.
The AIIPA delegation told the management, while taking steps for early hearing of Civil Appeals, they should pursue with the Government independently for early favourable  response. Recollecting the earlier indication of favourable inclination of the Government and pointing out to the availability of correspondence between LIC and Government, dealing with cost aspects of the proposals among other things, AIIPA said these should help the management to get the earlier favourable inclination revived, should help the management  carry conviction with the Government and ensure the elder pensioners and recipients of ex-gratia, get what is their legitimate due immediately.
AIIPA wanted to  know from the officials, the rational of filing an Affidavit in the Supreme Court quoting from the Government’s affidivit before the Allahabad High Court when LIC employees and pensioners got full neutralisation from August 1, 1997, while LIC decided as early as in November 2001 on uniform rate of Dearness Relief, implying full neutralisation,  while there was favourable inclination  for grant of this benefit along with wage revision due then and all the more when bank employees and pensioners became entitled only from May 2005.
AIIPA delegation underscored the restlessness among the pensioners, not only over the delay in getting solutions but also over the way the LIC management looked upon their problems. AIIPA also stressed that LIC should not cite pendancy of Civil Appeals as a reason for not finding early solutions.
The organisation forcefully put its arguments for a breakthrough and the Executive Director(P) listened to them patiently and said the Chairman and other top officials well appreciated the need for solutions. The Executive Director(P) assured the organisation that Chairman himself would follow up with the Government and himself and other officials would also be part of that effort.
During the course of interaction, it appeared the E.D.(P) understood the sentiments expressed in person and in the last letter about the pressure, presumably to the extent of creating a feeling of annoyance, though they said they had no such feeling. As Chairman and Managing Director were not  available on that day, the AIIPA will try for an earliest occasion to meet them also to convey its views.
Beside the above issues, other important issues were also raised by the delegation and the response  ranged from negativity to passiveness, to serious consideration. There was no inclination for extending the benefit to similarly placed pensioners with first of the month as their date of birth. However AIIPA has urged for reconsideration.
For the demand of  revised salary and pensionary benefits for officers who had retired between August 1992 and January 1994, the Executive Director agreed to revisit the issue with open mind.
The organisation wanted LIC to take steps for increased minimum monthly pension, uniform rate of family pension etc. The management, it seemed, was not for taking up more and more issues all at once with the Government. The officials informed that the issues would be pursued at the appropriate time.  But AIIPA demanded for solutions forthwith.
On payment of monthly pension on the last day of the month and on recovery of mediclaim premium from pension, the Executive Director(P) assued to talk to the concerned department officials for early decision.
On Group Mediclaim, the focus was on increased cover (both basic and optional), floater cover, grant of ex-gratia for High Cost Treatment, speedy settlement of claims and Cash Medical Benefit for domiciliary hospitalisation.
Executive Director(P) was favourably disposed to consider grant of Cash Medical Benefit but was reluctant on ex-gratia.
The delegation was told that LIC was proposing to negotiate with the insurer for increased cover, both basic and optional, floater cover on the lines of Group Mediclaim Policy for GIC employees and pensioners. We were also assured that subsidy will continue to be 75% of the increased Basic Sum Insured.
When AIIPA demanded inclusion of more diseases for cashless facility, the management opined  that insurer may charge for TPA services in such a case and LIC desired to avoid such a situation.
AIIPA felt, at this juncture, insistence on ex-gratia may be redundant as increased cover was in the offing.

The discussions were cordial and AIIPA felt satisfied that it could project issues in proper perspective, make the management understand, appreciate and in a way, reciprocate  as expected.
AIIPA wants to assure its members that their interests will be protected and furthered  both in LIC and GIC, given the confidence reposed by the members, given the steadfastness with which members responded to its calls and last but not the least, given the way the units keep the members abreast of the developments and weans them away from rumour mongering.

“Tum agar saath dene ka vada karo, main yonhe mast nagme lutatha rahoon;

tum mujhe dekhkar muskurathe raho, main tumhe dekhkar geet gaatha rahoon.”

With Greetings,

Yours Comradely,
(K.NATARAJAN)
General Secretary

•     AIIPA_Cir.04.14.doc